David Alfred Bywaters’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Career False Starts”—Jim’s review
Theme answers are familiar phrases that have an F prepended, thus describing wacky job descriptions.
Wall St Journal crossword solution · “Career False Starts” · David Alfred Bywaters · Wed., 1.15.25
- 17a. [Origami artist?] FOLDER WOMAN.
- 23a. [Fitness coach?] FLAB ASSISTANT.
- 38a. [Plumber’s apprentice?] FLOW BOY.
- 51a. [Independent hot dog purveyor?] FRANK OUTSIDER.
- 61a. [Pessimistic philosopher?] FUTILITY MAN.
Maybe it’s because I’m under the weather, but oof. I did not enjoy this. The theme is very basic, the puns tortured and unfunny, and two of the base phrases were new to me: “low boy” (I thought it was a drinking glass, no, it’s a kind of low trailer), and “rank outsider”. Why not go with “rank amateur”; it’s much more common?
At least the entries consistently describe careers, but that’s about the only thing I enjoyed here.
IGNORAMUS and FELL FOR IT make for good corresponding anchors in the corners. Also good: CROESUS and “I GET YOU.” Never heard of THE GODS as a term for seating in a theater.
Three stars.
Parker Higgins’s New York Times crossword–Amy’s recap
NY Times crossword solution, 1/15/25 – no. 0115
The theme answers are clued with idiomatic phrases, but one of the clue words needs to be interpreted as a different form of speech.
- 17A, [Look for trouble], STINK EYE. Look as a noun rather than a verb.
- 21A. [Good for nothing], FREEBIE. A good, noun, not the adjective.MINI WHEATS
- 38A. [With 40-Across, open for business], DEAR SIR / OR MADAM. Instead of the adjective “open,” we get the noun …”opening”? Using “open” as a noun in the clue phrase feels clunkier than in the other themers.
- 56A. [Fit for a king], REGALIA. I like this one best because it leans on contemporary slang, where “fit” is shorthand for an “outfit.” I’ll bet it alienates many other solvers, though.
- 63A. [Run for the hills], SKI SLOPE. Run as a noun, not verb.
A bit unexpected to have four Across 7s in the theme, but also four nonthematic Across 7s, 8s, and 10s down.
Fave fill: MINI WHEATS, REN FAIR, SCAVENGERS, SAMOSAS. Meh: ARCO, APSE.
- Three things:
- 5a WHO crossing WHERE AM I with “who” in the clue feels inelegant.
- 8A. [What to do “if you’ve heard this before”], “STOP ME.” Technically this is a 6-letter partial, but I kinda like it anyway.
- 6D. [Does some baling], HAYS. Did … did we know that this was a verb, to hay meaning to cut and bale hay, that sort of thing? Surprised to see it. The old Hollywood Hays Code and actor Robert Hays don’t pass muster?
3.5 stars from me.